Updates From the Mansion

This page features Bryn Du in the news and the latest updates from the Bryn Du Commission. If it's a newsletter you're looking for, head over to our newsletter page to access all past and present issues.

Bryn Du Historic Barn Renovation Update

We are excited to share that the Bryn Du historic barn renovation is progressing smoothly and remains on schedule for completion in mid-November. The new concrete floor has been laid, and framing has now begun, marking significant milestones in the restoration process.

During the renovation, we made an extraordinary discovery that has added a fascinating chapter to the barn's history. While working on the floor, our team found a signature on the underside of a floorboard. The signature, dated July 16, 1908, belongs to J.L. Berry, who we believe was a contractor involved in the barn's original construction. This find is particularly thrilling as it provides us with an accurate date for the barn's construction, a detail that had eluded us until now.

The discovery of J.L. Berry's signature has not only given us a tangible connection to the past but also sparked curiosity about the individuals who contributed to building this historic structure. We are eager to learn more about J.L. Berry and his involvement with the barn. If anyone has information about him or his work, we would love to hear from you.

As we continue with the renovation, we remain committed to preserving the historical integrity of the barn while making it a functional and welcoming space for our community. The enthusiasm and support from everyone have been incredible, and we look forward to sharing more updates as we approach the completion date.

Stay tuned for more news and insights into the fascinating history of the Bryn Du barn. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

To donate to phase II of the barn renovation or other historic updates to the estate, click here.

Bryn Du Mansion Announces Dedication of Cramer House

in Honor of Former Executive Director Bruce Cramer

Granville, Ohio, December 29 – Bryn Du Mansion is proud to announce the dedication of Cramer House, formerly known as the artist in residence cottage, in a heartfelt ceremony during the retirement party of the mansion's former executive director, Bruce Cramer.

The Bryn Du Commission, in recognition of Bruce Cramer's outstanding contributions and dedication, officially renamed the artist in residence cottage to Cramer House. This renaming serves as a lasting tribute to Bruce and his late wife, Susan, who played integral roles in the design and completion of the renovation of the cottage, originally the mansion's laundry house.

Bruce Cramer's leadership and vision were instrumental in guiding Bryn Du Mansion through various initiatives, and the dedication of Cramer House stands as a testament to his enduring legacy. The decision to honor both Bruce and Susan reflects the couple's profound impact on the mansion's history and their commitment to preserving its heritage while bringing new life to the estate.

Cramer House will continue to serve as a vibrant hub for artistic expression, a fitting tribute to Bruce and Susan's passion for the arts and community. The Bryn Du Commission invites the community to join in celebrating this momentous occasion, recognizing the Cramers' lasting contributions to Bryn Du Mansion and the community at large.

For more information about Bryn Du Mansion, the artist-in-residence program, or upcoming events, please visit bryndu.com.

Let's Celebrate Bruce!

Join us from 4-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2023

for an open house honoring our executive director, Bruce Cramer.

2023 Bryn Du Art Show Community Quilt Unveiling at the Boys and Girls Club of Newark

Images courtesy of Bryan Ghiloni Photography

Europe Through an Artist's Eyes

An exhibit by Bryn Du Artist Michelle Boerio showcasing the art from her travels through Europe this summer.

Bryn Du Art Center Tour

Sit back and enjoy this quick tour of the Bryn Du Art Center.

Jeanetta Pyle's Donor Challenge Met and Exceeded

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Our campaign to raise funds for the restoration, renovation, and re-purposing of our historic 115-year-old Barn continues as we work with the architects and engineers to flesh out and refine the design plans. Thank you to all who have contributed or pledged funds to date.

In July we announced a generous challenge pledge from local resident Jeanetta Pyle to match all individual donations dollar for dollar up to $25,000 through the end of this year. We are pleased and excited to announce that since this matching offer was publicized, we have received over $135,000 in cash donations from individuals plus another $30,000 in pledged amounts yet to be received. You have helped us to far exceed Mrs. Pyle’s challenge, and we are so grateful for your support.

For those of you who have not yet donated or who want to contribute more, you have multiple ways of giving to this campaign. You may give online at BrynDu.com through our donate button below, or you may print out a pledge form (also below) and mail us a check or your credit card information. However you choose to give, please know that we are a 501(c)(3) organization per the IRS and your donation is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

If you want to know more about the Bryn Du Barn renovation project and see the preliminary designs and architectural renderings, please click on the "Learn More" button below.

Though change is inevitable, our Barn project aims to preserve a bit of our local history and rural charm while also creating a very special community space. We need your financial help to do so.

Thank you for your support!

Candi Moore

President

Bryn Du Commission

Annual Bryn Du Art Show opens for artist submissions

The Bryn Du Art Show is open for visual art submissions until Jan. 15, 2023. All visual artists, including photographers, may submit 2D and 3D works for consideration in this 19th annual juried show to be held March 3-25, 2023. The 2023 Bryn Du Art Show juror will be Ken Emerick, the former Ohio Arts Council’s (OAC) Director of Artist Programs and the Ohio Percent for Art Program. Emerick has served as a juror for a variety of exhibitions and artist awards for numerous Ohio arts organizations, colleges and universities.

Since 2004, the Bryn Du Commission has continued to bring a variety of art works to the Mansion for a free, open to the public event. The 2023 Art Show is supported by River Tree Wealth Management – Northwestern Mutual, GermainCars.com, Kinetic by Windstream, the Hinderer Motor Company, the Village of Granville, the Ohio Arts Council, the Granville Arts Commission, and Ohio Magazine, among others. Last year’s event celebrated the 18th anniversary with both the beloved in-person art show, which included a large variety of artist demonstrations, art-making activities and the well-loved Community Choice awards, as well as, virtual aspects such as a zoom Q&A with the show juror and a virtual awards presentation for our artists across the nation.

This year’s chosen artists will be given the opportunity to put their artwork up for sale during the show and docent and/or provide public art demonstrations. The 2023 Best in Show artist will be awarded $1,000, and two additional artists will be awarded $500 each. These cash prizes will be sponsored by GermainCars.com. Artists’ submissions will be accepted through Jan. 15, 2023. Please go to www.bryndu.com for additional details and to submit art works. For non-online submissions, please contact Bryn Du directly.

Newark Advocate, October, 2022

Bryn Du Commission welcomes Tara Gordon as Program and Promotion Coordinator

The Bryn Du Commission announced Tara Gordon as its new program and promotion coordinator. Gordon brings a wealth of non-profit event planning and production experience and is excited to continue and expand upon Bryn Du’s existing programs centered around culture, recreation and education.

"We are so pleased to add Tara Gordon to our staff at Bryn Du," said Candi Moore, President of the Bryn Du Commission. "We look forward to continuing to build our art activities and other programming with Tara on board."

With a focus on the Bryn Du Art Center, Annual Bryn Du Art Show, Life/Local

Program, Artist in Residence Program and additional arts-related and cultural events, Tara will continue to expand upon the art and community programming that is thriving on the Bryn Du campus. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, the mansion still safely organized activities on the Bryn Du campus for 351 days in 2021, or 96% of the year. The Bryn Du Commission, with support from the Village of Granville, has provided program and event facilities for the benefit of the community while maintaining a mission of historic preservation since 2004. The commission takes pride in being a resource for the community and is extremely conscientious of operating costs in alignment to its core purpose.

Gordon comes to the Commission after working as the special events coordinator at Denison University. She joins the existing staffing team of Executive Director Bruce Cramer and Office and Events Coordinator Athena Koehler.